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Need some Tube and Class A SS Suggestions

I recently purchased a pair of Spendor D7s and am just loving these speakers. I have them paired with a musical fidelity KW 500 integrated. The combo is super fast, tight, and dynamic. However, the Spendors can be a bit too revealing in the high frequencies given a harsh or bright recording. This has me headed down the rabbit hole of tube amplification and possibly Class A SS. If the lowest bass is not as tightly defined I'm ok with. It actually may be too tight and defined at the moment. Added warmth in the upper bass would be fine as well. And if I'm going to upgrade then maybe it's time for separates too!

Here are the power amps I'm considering:
  • Primaluna EVO 400
  • Pass Labs XA25
  • Line Magnetic 805IA
  • Schiit Aegir Monoblocks - the price is just too good.
And on to the preamps:
  • Rogue Audio RP-5 and RP-7
  • PS Audio BHK Preamp
Ideally I would find at least one of the two Pre/Power used. I can probably get about $2200 for the musical fidelity so budget would be about $6k or so assuming I can somehow get both items used.

I'm curious to hear if any thoughts on what I've picked out already and if there are other units worth looking.

Thanks!
shahram
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

See how the Prima Luna’s output transformer has less instability ringing (peaking) from 10khz up when it is loaded down more and more.(green trace)
Prima Luna
https://www.stereophile.com/images/1214PLDPIfig01.jpg

But the D7’s impedance goes higher and higher from 7khz so the peaking will get worse and worse on the Prima Luna.
It would be far better for the D7’s impedance to go down instead of up, to keep the ringing peak down.
Spendor D7
https://www.stereophile.com/images/0415-SD7fig1.jpg

Cheers George
shahram OP
116 posts
 
@georgehifi 

I take your point there. Someone on another message board mentioned how they heard D7s with a Primaluna Dialogue HP at a dealer. They ended up buying the D7 as a result! So i think one thing that will trump what *might* be an issue with measurements is just listening. Hopefully I can figure out a way to do that.
shahram OP
116 posts
 
And another Preamp enters the ring. The Linear Tube Audio microZOTL Preamplifier. The preamps I am seriously now considering are:

  • Rogue Audio RP-7
  • Backert Labs Rhumba 1.3
  • Linear Tube Audio microZOTL
All these preamps have a few things in the common. They look attractive and kind of mid century modern. They are not gigantic. And they are partially or fully tube based. One of the main reasons I don't want to consider brands like BAT and Audio Research is I just don't like how they look. BAT especially.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,958 posts
 
@s

Two of those preamp have balanced outputs. Are you planning an amplifier with a balanced input?
shahram OP
116 posts
 
@atmasphere 

Balanced outputs are not a major consideration. More of a nice to have.
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